Disclaimer: None of these wonderful characters is mine; they are J.K. Rowling's.
Summary: Hermione graduated from Hogwarts 2 years ago and is now twenty. War rages on and she builds barriers around her heart.
Genre: Angst/Romance Rating: Mature/Lemon Warnings: This is very OOC. If you want the characters just the way they are in the book, stop now and click on the back button. This is also AU. If you do not like it, do not read it! Now for those who want to, enjoy!

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I Don't Believe In Love

Chapter two: The new spy

Severus hissed as pain shot through his left arm. 'Not now.' He thought.

He left the lab, and walked towards his rooms. He stopped in front of a painting of a grapevine entwined with a sword.

With a tap of his wand, the painting slid to the right and opened to a vault like hole but without the lock.

He took out his death eater robes and mask, went to his fireplace and flooed to the headmaster's office where, as always he would be given a portkey to transport him out of the Hogwarts grounds to save him the trouble of walking to the apparition point.

A pinch of floo powder, green flames, and a clear "Headmaster's Office" sent him to Dumbledore.

"Headmaster, I am being called aga--What is she doing here?" His announcement was cut when he saw Hermione wearing death eater robes and a mask sitting on her lap.

"Nice to see you too." She replied dully.

"Severus, she will go with you. She too is a spy. Quite a funny turn actually, you see--" Dumbledore was getting to his story mode again.

"Albus, with all due respect, we are wasting time. I suggest that we tell him about it later." Hermione cut him politely.

"Of course. Terribly sorry. It comes with age."

Dumbledore gestured a glass paperweight. "Good luck."

Snape snorted.

Hermione and Snape both made their way to the portkey. "1-" Snape put on the robes. "2-" They put on their masks. "3" They touched the portkey and with the familiar sensation, were swept away to Hogsmede.

They stopped and both landed on their feet.

"I expect an explanation later." Snape sneered before apparating away.

Hermione followed.

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Hermione found herself in a meadow. "Interesting venue this time, Tom." She made her way to Voldemort and bowed.

Snape was wide-eyed at Hermione's voice, casually saying the Dark Lord's given name. 'Idiot' He thought.

"Don't let it give you any ideas Severus." Voldemort hissed. "Hermione. I expect that there is some progress made."

"Yes. I have successfully situated myself at Hogwarts as a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher." She looked Voldemort in the eye.

"How ironic." Voldemort was almost crowing with glee.

"My Lord, pardon my rudeness, but we were wondering--" Lucius Malfoy was eyeing Hermione with great loathing.

"Tom, perhaps we should tell them." Hermione said coolly.

"Yes, yes. But first we wait for everyone to arrive--Speaking of which." Voldemort raised his wand.

"Crucio." Avery fell down to the ground unprepared for the attack. "Late Avery?"

"Forgive me--" Gasp. "My Lord,--" Gasp.

"Spare me your excuses." Voldemort spat.

"Tom?" Hermione asked. "Perhaps now is a good time."

"Yes." He lifted the curse. Snape watched this with narrowed eyes. "Now, Hermione is our newest addition. And do not let her way of addressing me give any of you ideas. I assure you, she gained the privilege."

"My lord, she is a mudblood." Lucius was making no effort to hide his thoughts of her.

"I know about my followers Lucius. Do not presume me ignorant!" Hermione smirked. "Crucio."

Lucius doubled over. "I am a skilled legilimens. She has proven her worth! You will not question me again!"

"My lord,--my apologies." Voldemort lifted the curse.

"We now have two spies in Hogwarts. Severus." Snape made his way to Voldemort. "These two are our spies. They are now secondary in rank."

"Thank you my lord." Snape was bewildered. This was drastic.

"Now for entertainment. Whoever defeats Hermione will get her for tonight. Hermione?" Voldemort gestured with his scaly hand. She gave him her wand.

"Go on Lucius. As you seemed so doubtful." Voldemort smirked.

Wandless, Hermione conjured up a dueling stage. She climbed up and looked at Lucius challengingly. The other followers watched this and circled around the stage.

Lucius raised an eyebrow and made his way up to the stage.

"Now take your bows." Hermione made a mock chivalrous bow but Lucius did nothing. "Come now, Lucius, let's not forget the niceties.

Lucius took a reluctant bow. "Now take ten steps." They both walked and at the end turned around.

Lucius took his dueling position while Hermione just stood straight in front of him.

Snape was watching this with mounting curiosity and apprehension.

"This will be interesting," whispered Voldemort. "Don't you think so, Severus?"

"Indeed my lord. She was my student fresh from Hogwarts." Snape replied.

Snape decided not to mention her abilities.

He watched the duel with apprehension. "One. Two--" Lucius threw his first curse.

"Imperio" Lucius smirked. It worked. "Dance for me." Or not. She did not move.

Hermione snorted. "Come now Lucius, It would take more than that to subdue me." She was taunting him.

"Crucio" Lucius said with much venom. Hermione dodged it.

"Ok..." She watched Nott writhing. She firmly stood and awaited Lucius' next spell, or curse, or hex.

"Ava--" Lucius received a blast that threw him off guard.

"I suppose playtime for you is over. My turn." Her voice turned cold. Icy. She raised her hand palm facing her opponent. She shot hex after wordless hex at Lucius. After five minutes he looked nothing like before. He was covered in boils. Slime oozing from each of them. Blood was trailing from the slicing hexes that she used. His body was contorted. His hair, no longer the same shiny, long hair. But the worst was his face. His eyes were leaking blood, his nose broken, his forehead covered in slices, and his cheeks. The same spell she used on Marietta Edgecombe, she used, except now instead of 'sneak', she used demeaning words. Tiny, words that covered his cheeks cannot be seen faraway, but once near, could be seen clearly.

"Ouch." To everyone's surprise, it was the dark lord who spoke. "I suggest you put him back together."

"Must I? Oh fine." The curly haired witch said sounding exasperated. She raised her hand again and a cloud of smoke covered the moaning, curled-up Lucius. "Humph, you are so lucky."

By the time the smoke cleared up, the other death eaters were looking at her with stunned expressions. "What! Well did you really think I would let him kill me?"

"Stand Lucius." Voldemort commanded. "I expect that you all now see. She is a formidable ally. Imagine the ministry of magic, stunned. One of their prized aurors, a death eater. It would be a blow. We make exceptions for blood in this case."

Snape was looking straight at Hermione. She stared at him, an eyebrow raised.

"If any of you still doubt Hermione, you may tell her yourselves. Now that we have two spies--" Nagini was slithering towards Hermione.

She knelt to Nagini and let the snake slither on her arm. The snake continued slithering up while voldemort was speaking. To her neck, around her shoulders, between her robe-covered breasts, down to her waist, hips, legs and up again.

"--that is all. You may return to your previous affairs." Voldemort finished.

The death eaters slowly scattered. Hermione and Snape were left. Voldemort was watching Nagini. Hermione was playing with the snake. Snape was still watching this. 'I will have my answers later.' Thought Snape.

Voldemort hissed and Nagini slithered to the dark lord.

The two spies started walking away but soon Hermione stopped.

"Accio." She simply said and continued walking. Her wand flew to her hand and they heard Voldemort laugh in the distance.

Hello again...I hope you enjoyed this chapter. It was fun writing it. Review. Please. Thanks for reading. - Darque